University of York researchers receive Royal accolade
Posted on 15 February 2006
The CNAP (Centre for Novel Agricultural Products) will be awarded one of The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 16 February 2006.A University delegation, led by the Chancellor Greg Dyke, will attend the ceremony. It will include the Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor, Chair of University Council, Gordon Horsfield, and the Director and founder of CNAP, Professor Dianna Bowles.
The award of a Queens Anniversary Prize after just six years of existence is a great honour and credit to all of those who have helped to establish CNAP as a vibrant environment
Professor Dianna Bowles
Introduced following the 40th Anniversary of the Queen's reign in 1992, the prizes rank alongside the Queen's Awards for Industry and are given biennially for "work of exceptional quality and of broad benefit either nationally or internationally." It was previously awarded to the University in 1996 for the excellence of its work in Computer Science.
CNAP, part of the University's Department of Biology, works with the natural world to find solutions to problems facing society. CNAP's six Professors work with some 70 researchers and support staff to develop a range of research programmes building on the capacity of plants and microbes to make useful products.
Founded six years ago, through a benefaction from the Garfield Weston Foundation and funding from the UK Government, the research centre has already achieved international recognition for its achievements, the quality and creativity of its research and its commitment to communicate science to the public.
Professor Bowles, said "The award of a Queens Anniversary Prize after just six years of existence is a great honour and credit to all of those who have helped to establish CNAP as a vibrant environment, committed to using science to benefit society. Increasing our knowledge of plants and the natural world provides a real opportunity to develop sustainable solutions to many of the problems facing us."
Professor Cantor added: "The spectacular success of CNAP is testimony to the breadth of its research, its close interactions with the public and its focus on realising the potential of renewable resources.
"The fact that this is the University's second Queen's Anniversary Prize reflects the all-round excellence of the University's research and teaching, and its commitment to engaging with the public on many levels."
Professor Howard Dalton, DEFRA's Chief Scientific Adviser, said: "At DEFRA, we need the highest quality science to help us find solutions to environmental problems and make good policy. DEFRA's predecessor MAFF helped set up CNAP with £2.1 million in 1999, so I'm delighted to see the centre achieve such success with this fantastic endorsement."
Notes to editors:
- The University of York is one of 21 winners of the sixth round of The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education organised by the Royal Anniversary Trust.
- CNAP is located in the new £22 million bioscience development, occupying 2000m2 of laboratories and facilities. Research in plant and microbial sciences is supported by the UK Research Councils, particularly the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), as well as the DTI and DEFRA, and funding from European and US organisations. At a regional level, CNAP is funded by organisations such as Yorkshire Forward, the Arts Council, England, Yorkshire and RCUK to develop and deliver a range of activities in public awareness of science, including "Hidden Worlds – Secret Lives", taking microscopes into primary schools across Yorkshire and Humberside. Professor Dianna Bowles, Director of CNAP, also coordinates a European Consortium providing science to advise policy in non-food crops "Realising the economic potential of sustainable resources – bioproducts from non-food crops", and chairs the new Knowledge Transfer Network of the DTI: Bioscience for Business. For further information on CNAP see www.CNAP.org.uk and www.understandingbiology.org www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/oilseed.htm www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/senseofscience.htm www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/pollutionplants.htm
- CNAP is a research centre in the Department of Biology. The Department is one of the leading centres for biological teaching and research in the UK, and has an integrated approach to Biology, with no barriers between disciplines. The Department teaches degree courses and undertakes research across the whole spectrum of modern Biology, from molecular genetics and biochemistry to ecology. The Department occupies a single set of purpose-built teaching and research laboratories at the west end of the University campus. The new laboratories, funded by a £21.6M JIF award from BBSRC, opened in July 2002, and include the innovative Technology Facility. The University of York is a dynamic and highly successful organisation, recognised internationally for its excellence in teaching and research. The University is consistently ranked in the top ten of UK universities.